Sunday, September 13, 2009

Floating Life: Contemporary Aboriginal Fibre Art at GOMA now!






















Currently on show at the Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane, is the exhibition 'Floating Life' highlighting the importance of fibre within Aboriginal culture and the 'commitment of the Queensland Art Gallery to developing a unique collections of more that 300 objects'. Banubirr (the Morning Star), water, and the notion of movement through time and place are major themes. Read more here.










I absolutely loved walking into this exhibition with little knowledge of what I would find. It took my breath away! This is an exciting and memorable collection of woven forms in diverse materials, including the obscure such as found fencing wire as well as a considerable number of natural fibres such as spinifex, bark fibres, jungle vines, and pandanus leaves. Each room contained more surprise and I have returned several times to see this exhibit.

























Forms of every kind, size,  structure, method and purpose are featured.



















This string bag or Abmin by Doreen Yam (b 1947) was constructed with knotted-netted polypropylene and had a particularly contemporary feel.







Below: This room featured fishing technology and contained examples of nets, traps and even a canoe sail made of woven reeds. The curator Dianne Moon has written an essay titled: 'Visible songs: captured flight' that gives a lovely introduction to this work...well worth reading if you wish to know more! This exhibition has drawn a great deal of enthusiasm from all who have been lucky enough to visit.
























10 comments:

jo horswill said...

Thank you Sophie, beautiful post.

Sophie Munns said...

Thanks for visiting and leaving a lovely comment Jo!
S

Jay Dee said...

Thanks for sharing Sophie - how much longer will it be running for as I've been wanting to visit?

Sophie Munns said...

Hi Jay Dee,
I just found it is on till 18th of October. Plenty of time yet...thanks for visiting!
S

Jay Dee said...

Hi Sophie! Thanks so much - managed to get in there on Friday - just wonderful. Probably the best indigenous exhibition I have ever seen I think.

Sophie Munns said...

Hi Jay Dee,
glad you managed to get to see this amazing exhibition. It is is outstanding I will agree! May your week ahead be much brighter!
Sophie

Jay Dee said...

Thanks Sophie :)

ArtPropelled said...

YUM! Thanks Sophie.

Pamela Zimmerman said...

fabulous! wish i could see them in person...so wonderful of you to share

Sharmon Davidson said...

Wow- these are gorgeous; they make me want to touch them to feel all that texture!